oval

1 of 2

noun

1
: an oval figure or object
2
: a racetrack in the shape of an oval or a rectangle having rounded corners

oval

2 of 2

adjective

: having the shape of an egg
also : broadly elliptical
ovality noun
ovally adverb
ovalness noun

Examples of oval in a Sentence

Noun The racetrack is an oval. Adjective the Oval Office in the White House
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Its oval shape features nine spots to add the bite-sized appetizers. Bridget Degnan, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2024 The oval membrane provides strings of multiple lengths on the same structure with its narrow and wide sections. IEEE Spectrum, 17 Mar. 2024 An oval platter of slices of breast, ermine-white and gently savory, are dressed in a rainbow mess of sweet peppers, with spiky leaves of rapini. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2024 The ovals along the path show the Moon’s shadow at five-minute intervals. Michael Zeiler, Discover Magazine, 23 Feb. 2024 Amali Jewelry’s 18K gold oval aquamarine pendant with hand made bezel. Beth Bernstein, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Benadryl tablets are easy to swallow thanks to their small oval shape and special coating. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 29 Feb. 2024 Since then, he's had a fulfilling career around the oval track and he's also grown in his personal life. Haley Van Horn, Peoplemag, 24 Feb. 2024 Everything within that oval, including the National WWI Museum and Memorial, was surrounded by 7.5 miles of temporary fence. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The Kohler Sunstruck oval tub is standard in the primary bathroom if this layout is chosen. Benjamin C Tankersley, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2023 This simple opener works well on circular cans but may not be effective on dented, square, or oval cans. Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2023 The series' oval finale at WWT Raceway will see an opposite switch – from 6 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., stealing away the series' only evening race a year ago. Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Jan. 2023 They're designed with oval and round faces in mind, and for those with a higher nose bridge. Gaby Keiderling, Harper's BAZAAR, 27 Jan. 2023 Today inside Paris’s Palais Brongniart, guests including Kerry Washington, Milly Alcock, and Rita Ora filed into a futuristic oval room for Fendi’s spring 2023 couture show. Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 26 Jan. 2023 In the dining room, the family’s original China collection — complete and fully intact — is set on a long, oval table. Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 26 Jan. 2023 Hailey also wore her signature oval sunglasses and carried a pillowy cream shoulder bag. Hannah Oh, Seventeen, 24 Jan. 2023 Bedbugs have flattened, wingless oval bodies and are red-brown in color. Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 16 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oval.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Medieval Latin ovalis, from Late Latin, of an egg, from Latin ovum

First Known Use

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1561, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oval was in 1561

Dictionary Entries Near oval

Cite this Entry

“Oval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oval. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

oval

1 of 2 noun
: an oval figure or object

oval

2 of 2 adjective
: having the shape or outline of an egg
Etymology

Adjective

from Latin ovalis (adjective) "having the shape of an egg," derived from earlier ovum "egg"

More from Merriam-Webster on oval

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